(Un)Civil Discourse

The United States is polarized like never before. While not alone in this respect, polarization in the United States is especially pernicious because it is accompanied by a high degree of negative partisanship as well as the unchecked spread of misinformation and disinformation. As a result, uncivil discourse—the use of language which is insulting, contemptuous, and which knowingly misattributes the motives of others—and political violence is on the rise, as witnessed in the attack on the Capitol on January 6, 2021. Disillusioned with the state of political discourse, many Americans wish to restore civility. But how can a civil culture be reimagined in the current era?

This series not only explores some of the major factors fueling the rancor and divisiveness in American politics, but crucially it asks how can citizens and leaders find common ground across a range of political issues that divide them? Since Canadians are not immune to these forces, we too must ask how to sustain the respectful, honest, and deep conversations we need to address the substantive challenges facing democratic societies.

Join us for the 2023 Phil Lind Initiative at UBC featuring talks by: Masha Gessen (January 26), John McWhorter (February 16), Safiya Noble (March 2), Linda Greenhouse (March 23), and Jonathan Haidt (April 20). All events take place at the Frederic Wood Theatre at the UBC Vancouver campus (6354 Crescent Road), with live streaming.

Subscribe to our Phil Lind Initiative Newsletter for updates on our next series.

The Phil Lind Initiative is hosted by UBC’s School of Public Policy and Global Affairs.